U.S. Visa Policy

U.S. immigration laws enacted by Congress to provide authority over immigration matters, including entry and exit of all travelers across the nation's borders, determining who may enter, how long they may stay, and when they must leave. The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), in Title 8 of the United States Code, provides the foundation for immigration law, along with its amendments. Additionally, more recent immigration laws have an impact on visa processing, including, as examples, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act of 2002. Learn more about U.S. immigration laws and regulations.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website and Consular Post websites are the definitive sources of visa information. Should there be discrepancies in content, the Consular Affairs website and Consular Post websites take precedence.